According to ESPN.com Russia's Dmitry Pirog made a big splash by knocking out heralded prospect Daniel Jacobs to win a vacant middleweight belt on July 31 on the Juan Manuel Marquez-Juan Diaz II undercard in Las Vegas. Titleholder Felix Sturm of Germany returned from a 14-month layoff to retain his piece of the title with a lopsided decision against Giovanni Lorenzo on Sept. 4. Now, the two titleholders could meet each other. Artie Pelullo, who promotes Pirog, told ESPN.com that he is in talks with Sturm's team about a unification in November or December or the first quarter of 2011. Pelullo said he has also talked to Top Rank about a match with former champ Kelly Pavlik, although Pavlik first fights Nov. 13 on the Manny Pacquiao-Antonio Margarito undercard. Pelullo said if he can't make a deal one of those fights, Pirog would return late this year to defend his belt in St. Petersburg, Russia.
Now that would be a cracking fight .... and well worth looking forward too ! ...think Sturm would wear him down for a close SD !
Hope this comes off. Pirog would be the man to finally rescue that belt that Sturm has been holding hostage for so long, imo.
Hate to be a 'glass half empty sort of guy' but I can't imagine Sturm taking a risk he dosen't have to. As for Pavlik, he dosen't seem to mind taking risks but is there enough money in a fight with Pirog?
Pirog is catching up for lost time. I’ll be surprised if Strum actually agrees to fight him. IF it happens, at least Pirog has the power to stop him before it hits the cards
The thing with Sturm is he has become disillusioned with boxing after the De la hoya robbery, he doesnt care about legacy anymore obviously. The belts to him and many other boxers are just money making tools and he will milk it dry for millions against poor contenders who just dont match up to his ability. Id eat my hat if he fights pirog.
^^^ Agree 100%. It would take a really strong character to even attempt to come back from that. Really, even though DLH admitted that Sturm beat him he ought to have vacated or granted an immediate rematch. Hopkins would have waited :deal
Well Sturm has left Universum which means he has more control over his career. Could be a case that they never wanted him to step up, but he does?
I'd be delighted if it got made. I'd be also pleasantly surprised. And I would equally be thirlled to see Hassan N'dam Nikam fight Golovkin as rhumored on the European forum. The 160 division seems to be loaded right now. As long as the belts are in Germany though its hard to see the evenly matched fights happening.
Sturm is a quite decent fighter, one of the best jabs in the sport atm but I don't see him taking on Pirog. Nice to see Pirog looking for the big fight straight after winning the title rather than racking up easy defences.